You did fine . . . I love my Renassiance. I doubt the blade will last for more than a few years to a decade though if its the one you learn to hone on. But you can always afford to buy another later, don't sweat it. If you get lucky and get the edge right in the beginning the blade will last for a long time.

I think the strop will be fine. I prefer to purchase the top of the line strops as, well, you use them as much as the razor but I think you'll be ok.

Seriously, its more about skill than equipment, knowing what to do. I bet I could get a great shave with that stuff.

I'd like to suggest a different honing route. Try stropping and test shaving first and see where its at. Chances are it'll be pulling. Try using the 8k side alone for a bit then more stropping and see how it goes. Then finally, try a very conservative pyramid and again strop and test shave.

Although it will take you longer, ripping into it blindly with a series of aggressive pyramids hasn't actually been the best advice, its just the direction people end up in when they dive into the Archive section.

Test often, they key is not to do a lot of strokes on the razor needlessly. Or to atleast know why your ripping steel off with a hone instead of just "cuz".